• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Fourth-quarter outburst powers Eagles past 49ers

Oct 13, 2008 - 12:52 AM By Tom Kent PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- The Philadelphia Eagles got back on the right track against the San Francisco 49ers.

Donovan McNabb passed for 280 yards and two touchdowns and Correll Buckhalter rushed for 93 yards and a score as the Eagles defeated the 49ers, 40-26, on Sunday

After dropping its last two games to the Chicago Bears and Washington Redskins, Philadelphia even its record at 3-3 and kept from falling back in the highly competitive NFC East.

"It all starts with confidence no matter what our record says," McNabb said. "We needed to come in here with a winning attitude. I tried to emphasize that all week and on the sidelines today."

Trailing, 26-17, early in the fourth quarter, the Eagles battled back behind McNabb's 2-yard touchdown pass to L.J. Smith and four field goals by David Akers to take a 33-26 lead.

Philadelphia defensive end Juqua Parker iced the game by picking off 49ers quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan's pass and returning it 55 yards for a touchdown.

"I was proud of our football team," Eagles head coach Andy Reid said. "We found a way to come back and win on the road in an adverse situation. It would have been easy to tank it, but they fought back."

Buckhalter, who was filling in for the injured Brian Westbrook, also caught seven passes for 85 yards.

"I thought Buck did an outstanding job filling in for Brian Westbrook," Reid said. "I think everyone took something from Donovan today. He kept everyone up."

Eagles rookie DeSean Jackson, who was held to only one catch in last week's defeat, snared six passes for 98 yards.

"It was a tough game," Jackson said. "We just stuck together and kept playing football. Everyone knew it was a game we couldn't afford to lose."

With San Francisco trailing, 17-9, and one second left in the first half, 49ers cornerback Nate Clements blocked Akers' 54-yard field goal attempt. Donald Strickland scooped up the ball and raced 41 yards for a touchdown as time expired in the half.

The Niners carried that momentum into halftime and opened the third quarter with a six-play, 78-yard drive that was capped off by Frank Gore's 6-yard touchdown run to give San Francisco a 23-17 lead.

Joe Nedney booted his fourth field goal midway through the third quarter to cap a run of 20 straight points and give the 49ers a 26-17 lead.

"We have to do a better job and play together as a team," San Francisco coach Mike Nolan said. "It doesn't feel good to be 2-4, but we need to get back on track. This is an important stretch for us."